16 October 2012

Compassionate Care for Rape Victims - McMahon would Turn back the Clock

Linda
McMahon Would Block Timely Access to Carefor Rape Survivors

McMahon
Called Out for Insensitive Statements

NEW HAVEN, CT— Christian
Miron, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, condemned Linda
McMahon for her disregard for certain survivors of rape. In an interview
with the Hartford Courant’s editorial board last week, McMahon said she
would side with hospitals over women. McMahon would allow hospitals that
oppose emergency contraception to turn away a rape survivor for the care she
requests.

“It couldn’t
make things more clear: Linda McMahon is bad for Connecticut women. She
thinks it okay to send rape survivors seeking emergency care to another
hospital in the middle of the night rather than give them the prompt medical
attention and compassion they deserve,” Miron said.

In 2007,
Connecticut passed legislation requiring licensed health-care facilities, like
hospital emergency rooms, to provide emergency contraception (EC) to survivors
of sexual assault upon request. “This bill passed overwhelmingly with
bi-partisan support and was signed into law by then-Gov. Jodi Rell,” Miron
said. “In Connecticut, there is widespread support for this law and the
values it reflects.

Studies show
EC is 95 percent effective in preventing pregnancy when taken within the first
24 hours after an assault. “Linda McMahon clearly doesn’t appreciate that
time is of the essence and sending a woman to another hospital to obtain EC
reduces the efficacy of the medication,” Miron said.

Miron
noted this is the latest in a growing trend of anti-women positions articulated
by Linda McMahon.

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NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut is the
leading grassroots pro‑choice advocacy organization in Connecticut. NARAL Pro‑Choice
Connecticut works to protect every woman’s right to access the full range of
reproductive health options, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing
healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.